Life Of King Arthur example essay topic

377 words
In T.H. White's Arthur Becomes King of Britain, White tries very hard for his audience to get to know Arthur painting him as a fully realized human being with emotions and character traits, while in Alfred, Lord Tennsyon's Morte d' Arthur, Tennyson shows us more of his deeds and contributions to society. Both of these stories help tell the epic of the King Arthurian legends. Both White and Tennyson display Arthur as a hero, but White shows Wart as a smaller, boyish, and more mettlesome character. "The King was dead" and on a site in front of a church lay a sword with the inscription of whoever could pull it out, would be king. Based on the thoughts on some of the people that resided with Wart, they believed he was still in his "boyhood" and could not participate because it was too far and "none of them had a chance" in pulling out the sword. Later on in the story, Wart himself cannot even view himself as a king so he does not right away admit he pulled out the sword but eventually does.

White portrays Wart as a more sentimental and emotional character. This can be emphasized when Sir Ector kneels down, because Wart is king, and Wart "bursts into tears" because he feels ashamed that his father is bowing to him. Tennyson's Arthur involves in discussing how Christmas has lost its "true meaning" and how times have really changed. He also depicts that Arthur is old, weak, and "remembered the days when every morning brought a noble chance, and every chance brought out a noble knight". Tennyson shows how the people depended on the king, he had provided safety and the comfort they needed.

For that reason town people cried "Arthur is come again: He cannot die" and "Come again and thrice as fair". The people promised, "War no more" so he would stay and rule once again, but death is inevitable. These stories do a fantastic job telling the life of King Arthur. While White shows more of his emotional side, Tennyson displays a more valiant facet of Arthur. Both works are a great choice in English Literature..